Administratrix of the



J. SNIDER, Jr.

Breech-Loading Fjre-Arm No. 69,941. v Patented Oct. 15, 1867.

To ALL WHOM IT MAY ooNossNQ gain?! tstes igattnt @f t' ANGELINA SNIDBR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF JACOB SNIDER, JR., DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN VAUGHAN SNIDER.

Letters Patent No. 69,941 dated 0mm 15, 1867.

"dilit-gththltlt mans it in these Enters haunt nut mating part at the same;

Be itknown that Jhcon SNIDnB, deceased, of the city of London, England, but formerly of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, invented; certain Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and I, ANGELINA SNIDEB, the widow and'administratrix of the said SNIDER, do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention, the main feature of which consists of a breech-piece having a projection adapted to a recess at the rear of the barrel, the said breech-piece being hinged.- to and arranged to slide on a .pin secured-to the fire-arm, and to aid in extracting the cartridge, all substantially as described hereafter.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the said invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part. of this specification, and in whic h Figured is a longitudinal section of the improvedbreech-loading fire-arm.

Figure 2, a transveh'se section of the same, on the-line 1-2, fig. 1. s

'Figure 3, a transverse section on the line 3-4,-'fig.'1.

Figure 4, a sectional plan view on theline 5-6, fig. 2, and V Figure 5 a plan view, showing the breech open, and an empty cartridge-case partly withdrawn from the bore of the Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several'views.

The barrel A of a breech-loading fire-arm is secured to a frame, B, in'which is a semi-cylindrical recess, a, for-the reception of the semi-cylindrical projection, a, of the movable breech-piece C. A pin, D, passes through projections b b on one side of the frame 13, and is secured 'to-th'e same by a set-screnL-pin, c, fig. 4'. A sleeve, E, enlarged at the rear end d, is arranged to slide freely on the pin D, and to the opposite end of the sleeve is secured the cartridge-extractor e, which is adapted to a recess formed in the frame at the rear end of the barrel A. The outer end of the extractor is curved, and has a projectionie', fig. 4, for a purpose described hereafter. On the under side of the extractor, and on the enlarged end of the sleeve E, are formed notches f f, fig. 3,

adapted to the edge of the frame 'on one side of theop'ening'a, so that the sleeve and extractor are prevented from turning upon the pin D as they are moved longitudinally upon the same- The sleeve E is maintained in the position shown in fig. 4 by a spiral spring, h, which is contained within two hollow cylindi'ical cases, i and t", the .latter bearing against the projection b of the frame, and the former being arranged to slide inthe case z'. and bearing against the sleeve E. On one side of the breech-piece G is a projection, It, by means of which it is hinged tothe sleeve E, and a portion, 70', of the said projection is of the peculiar shape shown in the drawing, for a purpose described hereafter. A pin, Z, which is arranged to slide in an opening cut in the breech-plug m, has a rounded end, adapted to a recess, 8', formed in the rear of the breech-piece O, the end of the pin being retained in the recess by a spring, as shown in fig. 1. A spring-striker, G, passes diagonally through the breech-piece, its end, r,'coinciding withthe centre of the barrel.

The several parts being in the position shown in figs. land 3, and a loaded centre-fire cartridge, provided with the ordinary flanged head, being contained within the bore of the barrel, in contact with the front of the breech-piece C, the arm is ready to be discharged, which is effected by a blow given to the striker G by the usual-hammer. The empty cartridge-case remains in the barrel, and previous to removing it the hinged breech-piece C is turned upon the sleeve E to the position shown in figs. 2 and 4, or until its projection It comes in contact with the side of the frame B, by which means its further outward movement is arrested. Then the breech-piece, fig. 4, is grasped by the hand, and drawn back in the direction of the arrow to the position shown in fig. 5, carrying with it the sleeve E, case i, and compressing the spiral spring k, and partly withdrawing the spent cartridge-case from the bore of the barrel, the projection c of the extractor bearing against the flange of the s ame, as shown in fig. 5. When the breech-piece G is released it will, with the parts connected to it, by the action of the spiral spring it, return to its original position, leaving the cartridge-case in the recess a at the rear of the barrel, from which it may be removed by hand, or dropped by inverting'the fire-arm. A new cartridge is then inserted, andthe breech closed preparatory to another discharge. In closing the breech, its

bevelled rear, 8, fig. 1, strikes and pushes back the spring-pin l,whieh, when the breech is completely closed,

enters its recess 8 and to a limited extent looks it, a sli ht effort bein re aired to a ain 0 en the breech, as a a: g 1 g P the pin Zmnst be first pushed back by the bevelled face i The return sliding movement of the breech-piece towards the bore of the barrel may be effected. by hand, without the aid of :1 spring, although the use of the latter is preferable.

I claim as the invention of the said JACOB SNIDER, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The breech-piece 0, having a projection, 1:, adapted to a recess, a, at the reiir of the barrel, when the said breechpi eee is hinged to and arranged to slide 01 :1. pin, D, for the purpose of extracting the cartridge, ell substantially as set forth. a r

2. The combination of the breech-piece C, sleeve E, pi-n D, and extractor e, attached to the sleeve.

3. The sleeve, and its notched enlargement, d, in respect to the edge g of the frame.

In testimony whereofI have signed my nnme'to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. ANGELINA sNID'ER. Witnesses: l

Geo. H, RIGBY,

Jenn IIOLLINGSWORTII. 

